ABSTRACT
The ingestion of certain chemical substances induces an altered state of consciousness; some members of all societies intentionally consume consciousness-altering substances. Most members of Western society regard any consumption of any illicit chemical substances, and the ingestion of too much of the legal substances, as forms of deviance. Even alcohol induces a consciousness-altering state, and, although legal, becoming drunk, especially habitually, and especially in situations that demand mental acuity and physical coordination, is a violation of society’s norms. Humans are neurologically hardwired to enjoy the low to moderate effects of most consciousness-altering substances; hence the use of all such substances is both ancient and nearly universal. But an immoderate use of consciousness-altering substances exacts a heavy and sometimes tragic toll: discoordination, mental confusion, risky behaviors, and, in the long run, mental and physical maladies. Drug use has both an objective (positivistic) and a subjective (constructionist) side. On the one hand, it is an identifiable form of behavior; it has certain concrete, measurable consequences; and it is caused by and has consequences that are a product of factors that are scientifically discoverable. On the other hand, drug use is also categorized in a certain way by the general public, by the law, and in the media. It is very likely that perceived risk of drug use tracks fairly reliably with the extent of use, that is, the greater the potential harm in using a drug, the riskier the public perceives a drug’s use to be and hence, the lower the likelihood of its use in the general population. In other words, drug use, like all significant phenomena, is socially and culturally constructed.
